In-ground storm shelter

ABSTRACT

An in-ground storm shelter for use near a structure having no basement, especially for use adjacent mobile homes or other slab-on grade dwellings. The in-ground storm shelter is a generally rectangular-shaped enclosure having a pair of generally vertical side walls and a pair of generally vertical end walls, an enclosed bottom and a hinged top. The shelter is made from a fiberglass reinforced product. The hinged top, also of fiberglass reinforced product, has a vent and an emergency exit hatch formed therein. Flexible lock is provided to lock the hinged top to the enclosed bottom. Safety chains are provided to prevent excessive deformation of the gas filled extension arms provided to ease use of the hinged top. The enclosure has vertical reinforcements formed in the walls thereof to prevent deformation by ground pressures. A ladder is incorporated in an end wall of the enclosure for permitting ingress and egress from the shelter, both through the hinged top and through the emergency hatch. The shelter also has seating formed in the side walls thereof and floor drains formed in the bottom of the enclosure. At least a pair of tie downs are provided as an anchors to prevent up heaving of the shelter from a position of use in-ground.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed generally to the construction of storm shelters, and in particular, it relates to an in-ground fiberglass storm shelter, having an emergency exit, and the installment thereof using tie downs to anchor the shelter in the ground.

Several US patents describe underground storm shelters. These patents include: Name Patent No. Leddy 984,942 Thornton 4,613,158 Qualline et al. 4,955,166 Poole 5,953,866

SUMMARY

The present invention is an in-ground storm shelter having a generally rectangular molded fiberglass enclosure with a ladder, built-in benches, vertical side and end wall reinforcements, a hinged top with a lock, flexible interior latches to secure tho top during occupancy, safety chains and, a pair of extension arms attached to the top permitting ease of lifting the hinged top when ingress into or egress from the enclosure is desired.

An emergency exit hatch and a grilled vent both are built into the top. Horizontal hold downs are provided adjacent the bottom of the enclosure such that, when a hole is formed at the desired location for the shelter, the enclosure is backfilled into the hole, the hold downs acting as an anchor to resist up heaving forces and retain the enclosure underground. The device of this invention may be installed with new construction or retro fit to existing homes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding of the invention will be enhanced by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the storm shelter generally;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the bottom portion enclosure of the device shown at FIG. 1 with the ladder shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the top of the device shown at FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the in-ground shelter with the top ajar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Understanding of the invention will be further enhanced by referring to the following illustrative but non-limiting example.

An in-ground storm shelter for use near an existing structure, especially for use adjacent mobile slab-on-grade dwellings. The generally rectangular enclosure has four vertical side walls, an enclosed bottom and a hinged top. The shelter is made from a fiberglass reinforced product. The hinged top, also of fiberglass, has a vent and an emergency exit hatch formed therein. The enclosure has vertical reinforcements formed in the sidewall thereof to prevent deformation by ground pressures and a ladder incorporated in the end wall of the enclosure for permitting entrance and egress from the shelter, both through the hinged top and through the emergency hatch. The shelter also has seating formed in the sidewalls therein and a floor drain formed in the bottom of the enclosure.

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an in-ground storm shelter 10, an all-fiberglass shelter, comprises a generally rectangular-shaped molded fiberglass bottom portion enclosure 30 which has four vertical side walls 20, an enclosed bottom 28 and a hinged top 12. The shelter 10 has a built-in ladder 44, also of fiberglass, shown in phantom at FIG. 2, and vertical side wall reinforcements 22 of foam filled fiberglass, formed in the sidewalls thereof to prevent deformation by ground pressures once the shelter is installed. A top 12, also of fiberglass, is shown in detail in FIG. 3. Top 12 is hinged to the bottom enclosure, hinge 16 indicated at FIGS. 2 & 4. The top 12 has a locking handle 50 and a pair of extension arms 54. The gas-filled extension arms 54 support the weight of the top 12 for ease of lifting the top 12 for use. An emergency exit hatch 60, for use when debris or the like block use of the hinged top 12. Grilled vent 58 is also built into the top 12. Built-in benches 40, shown in phantom at FIG. 4, are provided for use by persons entering the shelter. Hold downs 36, also of fiber reinforced product, are provided to anchor the shelter 10 once installed in place resisting heaving ground pressures. Flexible interior latches 21 are provided to secure the top 12 in the closed position during occupancy of shelter 10. Flexible latch compensates for misalignment between the top and bottom enclosure. Safety chains 34 are provided to deter wind forces from damaging gas filled extension arms 54 by preventing excessive deformation of the gas filled extension arms.

The storm shelter 10 is particularly useful adjacent an existing mobile home or other slab-on-grade dwelling structure having no basement sited in a local where tornadoes or other wind storms are a threat. The small size of the storm shelter 10, in actual use conditions, the shelter is approximately seven feet long by four feet across and six feet deep, permits the shelters to be installed and buried adjacent an exterior door of an existing home or other above-ground structure without requiring a large area to be available. The hinged top 12 provides easy access in the case of a sudden sever storm.

Hinge 16, indicated at FIGS. 2 & 4, permits the top 12 shown in detail in FIG. 3 to be pivoted upwardly permitting ingress into and egress from the storm shelter 10. In actual use conditions, a stainless steel butt hinge such as that supplied by Allegis Corporation, of Minneapolis, Minn., has been used although other hinges of similar strength and dimensions could be used.

Top 12 is supported by extension arms 54, in actual use conditions, gas spring connectors such as that supplied by Allegis corporation of Minneapolis, Minn., although other extension arms could be used. Extension arms 54 support the weight of the top 12 such that a user can easily lift and pivot the top 12 to enter or exit the shelter 10. A ladder, rungs shown at 44 in phantom in FIG. 2, permit the user to climb into and out of the enclosure 30. Top 12 has a two piece locking handle latch 50 positioned on the top 12 with catch 50′ positioned within the bump-out 48 on enclosure 30. The two piece locking handle is used to unlock and lift up the top 12 and after entering the enclosure, lock the top 12 in position. A latch 21, such as a rubber hood latch, in actual use conditions again provided by Allegis corporation of Minneapolis Minn., are used to secure the top 12 in the closed position during occupancy of shelter 10, although other flexible locks could be used. A rubber gasket 24 is also permanently adhered to the upper flange edge 14 of the enclosure 30 to seal the shelter 10 from rain and other water entering the closed shelter 10.

Ventilation is provided to the interior of the enclosure by ventilation hatch 58 shown in FIG. 3. In situations where normal egress is blocked and the top 12 cannot be lifted due to debris landing on top 12, emergency hatch 60, again formed into top 12, is provided to allow emergency ingress into and egress from the interior of the enclosure by means of ladder 44. Top 12 has a flange 14 surrounding and extending downwardly from top 12 and receives a topmost edge of enclosure 30. Gasket 24 is mounted along this flange 14 as topmost edge of enclosure 30. Bump-out 48 extends from the end wall 26 of enclosure 30 and receive the locking device.

The interior of the enclosure 30 has a built-in seat 44 for the convenience of the user. Drain hole 32, shown in phantom in FIG. 4, is provided in the bottom 28 of the enclosure 30, eliminate any moisture that may accumulate within the shelter 10. Vertical reinforcements 22, in practice foam filled fiberglass, provide resistance to sidewall 20 and end wall 26 ground pressure once the shelter 10 is installed in-ground. Hold down, 36 shown in FIG. 1 are provided that when the shelter 10 is backfilled into the ground during installation, provide anchoring means to resist up heaving to keep the shelter 10 in place.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An in-ground storm shelter, comprising; a generally rectangular-shaped molded fiberglass enclosure, said enclosure having a closed bottom, two generally vertical side walls ands two generally vertical end wall, each wall extending upwardly from said closed bottom to define a shelter cavity; a ladder provided in one of said end walls of said enclosure; a plurality of vertical wall reinforcements; a top hingedly positioned for use above said enclosure; means for locking said top to said enclosure; and means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge, the weight of the top supported thereby during use.
 2. The shelter of claim 1, further comprising an emergency exit hatch formed in said top.
 3. The shelter of claim 2, further comprising a grilled ventilation vent formed in said top.
 4. The shelter of claim 3, further comprising built-in benches formed in said side walls.
 5. The shelter of claim 4, further comprising a pair of hold downs as means for anchoring the shelter in its in-ground position of use.
 6. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said means for locking said top to said enclosure further comprising flexible latches.
 7. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge further comprise a pair of gas-filled extension arms.
 8. The shelter of claim 7, further comprising a pair of safety chains to deter wind forces from damaging said gas-filled extension arms.
 9. The shelter of claim 1, wherein said means for locking said top to said enclosure further comprise a two-piece lock whereby one of said two pieces is positioned on said top and mates to a second of said two pieces positioned on said enclosure such that said top may be locked to said enclosure.
 10. The shelter of claim 9, wherein said means for locking further comprise a handle positioned inside the enclosure such that said top may locked and unlocked to said enclosure both from the inside and the outside the closed enclosure.
 11. An in-ground storm shelter, comprising; a generally rectangular-shaped molded fiberglass enclosure said enclosure having a closed bottom, two generally vertical side walls ands two generally vertical end wall, each wall extending upwardly from said closed bottom to define a shelter cavity; a ladder formed in one of said end walls of said enclosure; a plurality of vertical wall reinforcements; a top hingedly positioned for use above said enclosure; means for locking said top to said enclosure; means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge, the weight of the top supported thereby during use; and an emergency exit hatch formed in said top.
 12. The shelter of claim 11, further comprising a grilled ventilation vent formed in said top.
 13. The shelter of claim 11, further comprising a pair of hold downs as means for anchoring the shelter in its in-ground position of use.
 14. The shelter of claim 11, wherein said means for locking said top to said enclosure further comprising flexible latches.
 15. The shelter of claim 11, wherein said means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge further comprise a pair of gas-filled extension arms.
 16. The shelter of claim 11, further comprising a pair of safety chains to deter wind forces from damaging said gas-filled extension arms.
 17. An in-ground storm shelter, comprising; a generally rectangular-shaped molded fiberglass enclosure said enclosure having a closed bottom, two generally vertical side walls ands two generally vertical end wall, each wall extending upwardly from said closed bottom to define a shelter cavity; a ladder formed in one of said end walls of said enclosure; a plurality of vertical wall reinforcements; a top hingedly positioned for use above said enclosure; means for locking said top to said enclosure; means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge, the weight of the top supported thereby during use; an emergency exit hatch formed in said top; and a pair of hold downs as means for anchoring the shelter in its in-ground position of use.
 18. The shelter of claim 17, further comprising a grilled ventilation vent formed in said top.
 19. The shelter of claim 18, wherein said means for locking said top to said enclosure further comprising flexible latches.
 20. The shelter of claim 18, wherein said means for supporting said top such that it maybe pivoted about said hinge further comprise a pair of gas-filled extension arms. 